Gold in Nature/Underwater / 2025 / Nature / Underwater

• Prize
  Gold in Nature/Underwater
• Photographer
  Remuna Beca, United States
• Date of Photograph
  July 4, 2021
• Website
  https://www.remuna.com

A solitary shark drifts through the deep, illuminated by beams of light that radiate outward like a celestial spotlight. Captured far offshore in the open ocean, this image reduces the scene to its most elemental forms—light, shadow, and motion. The shark becomes a silhouette of serenity and strength, suspended in the vastness. Framed at the heart of a natural mandala of light, the subject draws the viewer inward, inviting stillness and reflection. In a world often portrayed with fear, this photograph seeks to reframe the shark as a symbol of grace, balance, and beauty.

Remuna is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and passionate conservationist. Her underwater work captures the extraordinary diversity of life beneath the surface, highlighting both the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems and species, with a special focus on sharks. Through her lens, Remuna strives to deepen our connection to the ocean and raise awareness of critical conservation issues, aiming to inspire a greater appreciation and collective action to protect our planet’s most vital ecosystems.

Awards - 2024
- Underwater Photography of the Year Wide Angle Runner Up
- SIPA Underwater Life Finalist x3
- reFocus Awards Pro Underwater Winner Silver + Honorable Mention x2 + Nominee x2
- Fine Art Photo Awards Pro Fine Art + Wildlife Honorable Mention x2
- Photo Week Awards Wildlife Honorable Mention
- International Color Awards Wildlife Honorable Mention + Nominee x2
- Exposure One Nominee x9

2023
- Ocean Photographer of The Year Wildlife Finalist + Conservation Hope Finalist
- Monochrome Awards Pro Fine Art + Wildlife Honorable Mention x3
- World Shootout Underwater Grand Prix Semi-Finalist
- Chromatic Awards Pro Wildlife and Animals Honorable Mention x3
- ND Awards Pro Nature Underwater Honorable Mention x2
- Close Up Photographer of the Year Underwater Shortlist
- Nature Conservancy Underwater Finalist
- Nature TTL Photographer of The Year Underwater Finalist x3
- Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Honorable Mention + Finalist x3
- Fine Art Photography Awards Pro Nature Honorable Mention
- Wildlife Photographer of The Year Animal Portraits Finalist x2
- Underwater Photographer of the Year Wide Angle + Macro Finalist
- South Florida Underwater Photographic Society POTY Winner

2022
- World Shootout Sharks Winner 2nd + Conservation Winner 3rd + Semi-Finalist x5
- Close Up Photographer of The Year Underwater Top 10
- Ocean Photographer of the Year FFF Finalist
- Nature TTL Photographer of The Year Underwater + Animal Behavior + Wild Portraits + Small World Finalist
- Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Master Portfolio + Open Water Finalist
- Big Picture Underwater Finalist
- South Florida Underwater Photographic Society POTY Winner

2019
- Close Up Photographer of The Year Underwater Finalist
- Underwater Photographer of The Year Up & Coming Winner Third